Residential project
tops W. Torresdale’s agenda

The West Torresdale Civic Association held a brief and sparsely attesnded meeting on July 12.
One of the more contentious matters the organization has been dealing with is a legal matter involving a multi-unit residential development project on Legion Street. Civic members feel that the project would be too dense for their neighborhood.
The developer in the case, John Arcidiacono, known as John Arch, filed a lawsuit against the city for its attempt to deny him zoning approval for the project. The case went all the way to Commonwealth Court on June 13, but no judgment has been rendered.
In news from the meeting:
• The group is still waiting to organize a cleanup of the bank of the Poquessing Creek, which members say is often the site of teen drinking. The group plans to enlist the help of inmates from the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility on State Road.
• The city continues to try to clean up a blighted property on the 3700 block of Avalon St. The yard contains various equipment and vehicles and has previously been cited by the Department of Licenses and Inspections.
• Civic officials said a group home is operating on the 3600 block of Avalon St. The residence, which is surrounded by a 6-foot vinyl fence, houses mentally challenged individuals served by the agency Special People in Northeast (SPIN).
• Civic president Judd Newton announced that he has joined the Northeast Airport Advisory Committee. The group meets to discuss issues related to the airport.
• Peg Recupido, aide to City Councilman Brian O’Neill (R-10th dist.), thanked the group for its letter of support for the councilman’s efforts to keep a multimillion-gallon sewage holding tank out of East Torresdale. The Philadelphia Water Department, which proposed the plan, is now considering other alternatives, Recupido said. ••
The West Torresdale Civic Association meets on the second Thursday of every other month at 7 p.m. at the 8th Police District, 3100 Red Lion Road. The group next meets on Sept. 13.